Improved broom



Hf. C. INGERSOLL.

. Broom.

No. 35,759. l Patented July 1, 1862.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HENRIETTA C. INGERSOLL, OF BANGOR, MAINE.

IMPROVED BROOM.

Specilicalion forming part of Letters Patent N0. 35,7599 dated July l, 1862.

To @ZZ wtont it may concern:

Be it known that l, HENRIETTA C. INGER- SOLL, of Bangor, in the county of Penobscot and Stateof Maine, `have invented a new and Improved Dustless Broom; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a partof this specification, in which*` Figure 1 represents a front elevation of my invention. Fig. 2 is a transverse vertical section of the same.

Similar letters of reference in both views indicate corresponding parts.

This invention consists in the arrangement of a sponge or other device capable of taking up and holding a comparatively large quantity of water by capillary attraction in combination with a corn broom in such a manner that during the operation of sweeping the broom by the pressure of the broom-corn on the sponge is gradually supplied with moisture, and that the same can thus be kept wet for a long time and without any trouble or danger of spilling water, and thus the operation of sweeping can be effected without raising any dust.

To enable those skilled in the art to make and use my invention, I will proceed .to describe its construction and operation with reference to the drawings.

The broom A is constructed in the ordinary manner, the butt-ends of the broom-corn being fastened together by means of one or more cords, a, and a cap, b, and it is provided with a handle or stick, B, which is secured to the body ot the broom in the usual way.

From the cap b two arms, c, extend ina downward direction, or in a direction toward the points of the broom-corn, and between the loose ends of these arms a sponge, C, is secured by means of cross-bars cl, that are inserted in a zigzag line into said arms. The upper ends of the arms c are provided with several holes, e, so that the same can be adjusted higher and lower and the sponge can be placed farther from or nearer to the points of the broom-corn.

sired to use the broom for sweeping a carpet or dusty floor the sponge or other material is soaked with water, which will be readily taken up and held by the same until during the operation of sweeping the pressure exerted by the broom-corn on the sponge or other material causes the water to ooze out gradually. By these means the broom is supplied with the requisite quantity of moisture for a considerably long time, and no dust is allowed to rise during the process of sweeping; and, furthermore, by keeping a wet sponge in the corn broom the corn is not liable to dry and become brittle. Consequently, the broom will lastmuch longer thanit would withoutsaid sponge. The wet sponge also keeps the broom soft and pliable, so that itdoes not scratch and wear out carpets.

It is obvious that the sponge or other material which may be used as a substitute for the sponge can be attached to or connected with the broom by other means than those described herein, and I do not want to confine myselftherefore, to any particular means or device for attaching the sponge to the broom.

In attaching the sponge or dust-layer to the broom care ought to be taken to select light brooms, and when the broom is used for sweeping a carpet the wet sponge is adj usted higher up or farther from the points of the broomcorn than when it is tobe use d for sweeping a dusty floor. After having been used, or before sweeping again, the broom ought to be thoroughly rinsed in clean water.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

The application of a sponge, C, or its equivalent to a corn broom, A, substantially as and for the purpose described.

HENRIETTA C. -INGERSOLL YVitnesses:

ALBERT W. PAINE, E. S. COE. 

